Acetylene-gas generating and supply system.



G W. WOMPSON.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERAIINU AND SUPPLY SYSTEM.

APILICAHON FiLED DEC EL 29H,

2 SHEETS SHEEI 1.

Patented July 16, 1918.

[Bear a W Thompson GYM-EVE- G. W. THUFVEPSUN.

AC} TYUNE GAS M NUUJWQ AND SUPPLY hYSTEM.

wmimrmw mm 050, H. 1917 1 ,272,727. Patented July 16,1918,

2 HEUb--SHElI 2,

fig- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. THOMPSON, OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI. ASSIGNOR OF THIRTY-TWO ONE- HUNDRED-AND-TWENTY-EIGHTHS T0 WILLIAM B. SANFORD, TWENTY-FOUR ONE- HUNDBED-AND-TWENTY-EIGHTHS TO DOUGLAS J. LANDERS; TWENTY-ONE ONE- HUNDRED-AND-TWENTY-EIGHTHS TO WILLIAM A. MoATEE, TWELVE ONEHUN- DBED-AND-TWENTY--EIGHTHS TO ALPHONSO B. LOVAN, TWELVE ONE-HUNDRED- ANDTWENTY-EIGHTHS TO GEORGE W. YOUNG. AND THREE ONE-HUNDRED-AND- TWENTY-EIGHTHS T0 WILLIAM T. SHORES, ALL OF SPRINGFIELD. MISSOURI. AND SIX ONE-HUNDRED-AND-TWENTY-EIGH'IHS TO CLARENCE H. NICHOLS, OF NEW Yonx, N. Y.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1918.

Application filed December 8.1917. Serial No. 206.167.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that l. hinner: W. 'lnonl son. a citizen of the l lllltll ritalcs. residing at Springliel(l Greene county. Missourh have invented a new and useful Acetylene- Gas Generating and Suppl System for Aw tomobiles, of which. the l'riillowing is a specification.

The present. invention i-= an acetylene gas generating and supply system for automohiles.

An object of the invention is to provide an cfiicient system for generating the acetylene gas and supplying the same to the engine of an automobile in quantities sufficient to maintain the engine in constant operation when desired so that the vehicle will be propolled by the engine operating with aoetw lone gas. In this connection it will be un- (lei-stood. of course. that tlic system for generating and. supplying the acetylene gas is equipped with proper controlling devices for controlling the supply of the gas to the engine in order that the operation of the engine may be under complete control of the operator.

'Another object of the invention is to pr0- vide a system for generating and supplying acetylene gas to the engine of an automobile including mechanism controlled and oper ated by the engine for controlling the supply of (H.lbltl to the generator so that the quantity of gas generated will be commensurate and properly proportioned to the quantity of gas consumed by the engine and required to maintain the engine in proper operation,

30 that the quantity of gas generated will be varied in accordance with the variation in the amount of gas consunn-d.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system for generatingand supplying :u-ctylcnc gas to the engine oil an automobile. said system including rfiicicnt safety and contwilling dnvirrs for cllicicu'll controlling the suppl l' gas and l or preventing hacklire into the supply svsteul.

Other o im-ls which do not rely"! e cilic mention in this commotion will appear from the billowing description read in rounection with the drawings. in whirll' ig ure l is an elevation, diagraun'natic in form, illustrating the generating and supply system appli d to an automobile. it being! uudcrslmul that the location of the various parts ol? the generating and supply system m1 v be varied as desired or required by the type or construction of automobile with which the system 12: combined.

Fig. 2 a view illustrating certain essen' tial parts of the invention in section and others in elevation. certain of the connecting pipes and parts being broken to permit the di tlercnt parts of the system to be illustrated in proximit to each other.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the carbid container on the line 3 --3 of Fig. 2 viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on. the line 4--1t of Fig. looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a seal device included in the supply passage between the generator and the carburetor.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional vmp of a pressure reducing valve included in he sys tem.

Fig. 7 is a detailed view of a clutch con stituting a part of the connections operated by the engine for delivering the carbid into the generating tank.

Fig. 8 is a sectional vliew of a check valve in the pipe between the generating tank and the storage tank.

Fig. 9 is a sectional View of the device for controlling the clutch in the connections operated by the engine for delivering the carbid into the generating tank.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the pressure relief device by which excessive pressure is released from the generating tank in case of generation of an excessive supply of creating over-pressure.

In the embodiment illustrated the generating tank 1 is supported in an appropriate place by the automobile and contains a nantity 'of water into which the carbid is t elivercd. Above the eneruting tank is a receptacle 2 for the car id, said receptacle having a removable cover in order that the carbid may be placed within the receptacle as de sired.

The bottom of the receptacle 2 includes a bottom wall 3 having two openings 1. and below the bottom wall 3 there is a plate 5 having a pair of spaced openings 6 out of alinement with the openings *1. A revoluble disk 7 is mounted between the bottom 3 and the plate and is provided with a pair of openings 8 which. as the disk is rotated, are brought into alternate registration with the openings 4 and the openings 6. Thus the carbid which is in small particles constantly lills the openings -1 in the bottom of the carbid receptacle; and when the openings 8 in the revoluble disk are brought into alinement with the openings 1 as the disk is rotated quantities of the carbid enter the openings 8. and as the disk rotates such quantities of carbid as enter the openings 8 are moved around with the disk 7 until said openings 8 register with the openings 6, whereupon the cal-bid in the openings 8 drops through the openings 6 into the water in the generating tank. The disk 7 is rotated by the engine so that the quantity of carbid delivered into the generatm tank is in proportion with the quantity 0 gas being consumed by the engine.

In the embodiment illustrated. which may be varied in accordance with the individual preference or different retplircmcnts, the disk 7 is driven by connections operated by the usual pump operating shaft 9 which as usual is operated by the crank shaft of the engine. As shown the shaft 9 is provided with a pinion 10 which meshes with a pinion 11 on a shaft 12 supported in appropriate bearings under or in connection with the vehicle body. A vertical shaft 13 (Fig. 2) extending through the generating tank. is keyed to the disk 7 so that when the shaft 13 is rotated the disk 7 rotates therewith. The lower end of the shaft 13 supports a beveled gear 14 meshing with a beveled gear 15 attached to a shaft 16 in alinement with the shaft 12, and adapted to be connected with and disconnected therefrom by a clutch device. This clutch device is illustrated in Fig. 7. One member 17 of the clutch device is attached to the shaft 12 and the cooperating parts are supported by the shaft 16. To a support 18 attached to the shaft 16 a pair of clutch levers 19 are pivoted and are provided with shoulders 20 into and out of engagement with the members 17 to clutch the shaft 12 with the shaft 16. The ends of the levers a collar 21. movable axially on the shaft 16 and actuated toward the clutch member 17 adapted to be moved 19am pivoted to.

by a spring 22. Thus the shaft 12 and the shaft 16 are normally connected or clutched together, so that when the shaft 12 is rotated by the engine the shaft 16 will also be ro tated normally.

Provision is made whereby the clutch will be automatically disengaged when the pressure of gas in the generating tank rises beyond a predetermined maximum, that is when the gas supply rises above the quantity being consumed or demanded by the engine. The device for disengaging the clutch and releasin the, shaft 16 from the sha t 12 is operated automatically and in the embodiment illustrated includes connections operated by the gas pressure for moving the collar 21 axially on the shaft 16 in a direction away from the clutch member 17 in order to move the shoulders 20 out of contact with the clutch member 17. and I will now de-' scribe these connections.

A passage 23 (Fig. 9) from the generat ing tank opens into a chamber 24 in which there is a diaphragm plate 25 constituting a support for the base of a rod 26. A lever 27 is pivoted to a support 28 and is connected to the rod 26 as shown. A link 29 connects the lever 27 with one arm of a bell crank lever 36 (Figs. 2 and T), the opposite arm of the bell crank lever being connected in a well understood manner with the collar 21. so that by operation of the bell crank lever in one direction, the collar will be. moved axially on the shaft. 16 to operate the levers 19 and release the clutch. Thus, when the pressure or quantity of gas in the generating tank rises to a prcdetermincd maximum. the diaphragm 25 is raised. the rod 26 is moved, the lever 27 is operated. and the link 29 operates the bell crank lever 210 to move the collar 21 in opposition to the spring 22, as reouired to release the clutch and disconnect the shaft 16 from the shaft 12. This leaves the shaft 12 in constant ro tation while the engine is running without operating the shaft 16 and cmiseqnently the disk 7 is stopned, and no more carhid is delivered into the generating tank until the clutch connection is restored and the shaft 16 is again rotated as an incident to the re duction of the quantitv of gas in the generating tank.

A pipe 31 constitutes a passage from the generating tank to a storage tank 32 through which the gas is conducted from the generating tank to the storage tank. A check valve is included in the passage 31 to we vent back pressure or backward flow of the gas from the storage tank in case the generating tank is opened. The check valve is illustrated in Fig. 8 and comprises a valve case 33 having a. partition 34 between the inlet and outlet passages of the case. The partition 34 -is provided with an opening in which OPGPfliBS the stem 35 of a valve 2-56.

When the 'n'essure in the storage tank 32 is lower than the pressure in the generating tank the valve 3.3 is opened by the pressure of the gas from the generating tank. thus permitting the gas to pass into the storage tank. When the pressure of the gas in the storage tank equals that in the generating tank, the valve automatically closes, and in ease the pressure in the generating tank is reduced by any cause. the valve is held in closed position by the pressure of the gas.

A pipe 37 leads from the storage tank 32 to a tank 38 and is equipped with a pressure reducing valve so that the gas will not be forced toward the engine under too great pressure. The pressure reducing valve is illustrated in Fig. 6 and includes a case 39 having a ohamherdt) formed therein, into which the gas is admitted from the tank 32. The chamber 40 has an outlet opening 41 in which is seated a needle valve 42 in connection with a valve member 43 supported by av spring -14. The valve is opened by the pressure of the gas from the tank 32 only when the pressure of the gas in the tank 38 becomes reduced to a predetermined minimum. The amount of pressure required to open the valve 4-2 may be varied and in the form shown the device for varying the resistance of the spring comprises a spring 45 bearing against a lower member 46 which is seated upon a diaphragm 47 that bears against the valve support 43. A screw 48 operates against a disk 49 against which the upper end of the spring 45 bears, so that by adjust ment of the screw in different positions the pressure oi. the spring 45 in opposition to the ressure of the spring 44.- may be varied.

The pipe 37 also includes a valve 50. of usual construction which may be adjusted in order to close the passage 37 entirely, and

prevent any passing from the tank into the tank 38.

A passage 51 from the tank 38 opens into the case 52 of a water seal device (Fi 5 the lower and open end of the pipe 51 fiein submerged in the water in the case 52. float 53 seats against the lower open end of the pipe 31 in the case'52, but yields to the pressure of the gas when the engine is operating to permit the gas to be discharged from the pipe 51 into the water in the case 52 from which the gas, after rising through the water. passes through a pipe 54 into a carburetor 55 and thence into the manifold of the engine. I

A. passage 56 from the tank 32 is connected wlth an indicator 57 supported in con venient position upon the ,dash of the automobile to indicate to the operator of the vehicle the pressure in the storage tank. Similarly, a. passage 58 from the tank 38 leads to an indicator 59 on the dash of the vehicle for indicating tor the operator the amount of pressure in the reducing tank 38.

Provision is made for releasing the pressure in the generating tank automati ally in case the pressure rises beyond a desired maximum. As shown the device for effecting this result. includes a discharge passage (30 (Fig. 10) opening into a valve case til having an exhaust outlet U2 and a partition (33 between the exhaust outlet and the inlet. An opening is formed in the partition '13 and is controlled by a puppet valve til in connection with a stem extending through the upper wall of the case and having a prcr jection (it) thereon. A lever 67 is pivotally supported at 68 and has one end thereof seated upon the projection 66 so that the valve will be normally pressed to and held in closed position by said lever. A spring 69 presses against the lever 67 and serves to hold the valve til closed until the pressure in the gelmrating tank rises beyond the desired maximum, whereupon the pressure of the gas against the valve 64 overcomes the pressure of the spring 69 and opens said valve and thus relieves the pressure in the generating tank.

From the foregoing it. will be apparent that my improved system includes gas generating means controlled or operated directly by the engine, and that the gas generated as a result of the operation of the generating means passes to and causes oper ationof the engine. Thus there is :icomplete and direct coordination and cooperation between the engine and the gas generating means, and the latter being controlled from the engine operates in harmony with the engine so that only the required amounts of gas forming materials are consumed. I do not restrict myself to the specific mech anism for controlling the generating means 'from the engine, nor to any specific features of construction and arrangement other than set forth in the appended claims.

\Vhat. I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

'1. The combination with the engine of a vehicle, of an acetylene gas supply system supported by the vehicle and comprising a tank arranged to contain one of the gas forming materials, a generating tank arranged to contain another of the gas forming materials, mechanism for delivering the gas forming n'iaterial from the first-mentioned tank into the generating tank, a shaft driven by the engine. a shaft for operating said mechanism. a device settable in one position to drive the second-named shaft from the first-named one and settable in another position to enable the first-named shaft to operate while the second shaft remains idle, automatic means or moving said device to position to drive the second shaft from the first one. and means operated by the pressure of the gas in the generating tank for moving said device to position to enable the second-named shaft and said mechanism to remain idle while the first-named shaft continues to operate.

2. The combination with the en ine of a vehicle, of an acetylene gas supp y system supported by the vehicle and. comprising a tan arranged to contain one of the gas forming materials, a generating tank arranged to contain another of the gas forming materials, mechanism operated by the engine for delivering the gas forming ma terial from the first-mentioned tank into the generating tank, a passage for conducting the gas generated in the generating tank to the engine, and means controlled by the pressure of the gas in the generating tank for rendering said mechanism inoperative when the pressure of the gas in the generating tank exceeds a predetermined maximum.

3. The combination with an engine, of an acetylene gas supply system. for the engine comprising a tank arranged to contain one of the gas forming materials, a generating tank arranged to contain another of the gas forming materials, mechanism for deliver ing the gas forming material from the firstnamed tank into the generating tank, a device operated by the engine for operating said mechanism, and means controlled by the pressure of the gas'in the generating tank for preventing operation of said mechanism by said device when the pressure of the gas in the generating tank exceeds a predetermined maximum.

4. In a gas supply system, the combina tion of a gas generating tank, a storage tank, a passage between said gas generating tank and said storage tank, a second storage tank, a passage between said first-named storage tank and said second-named storage tank, a passage for conducting the gas from the second-store e tank, and a float device controlling said est-named passage.

5. In a supply system, the eom'bina tion of a gas generating tank, a storage tank, a passage between said gas generating tank and said storage tank, a second storage tank, a passage between said first-named storage tank and said second-named storage tank, a pressure reducing valve insaid lastnamed passage, .a. passage 'for conducting the gas from the second storage yank, and a float device controlling said st-named passage.

6. In a gas supply system for an engine, the combination with the engine of a gas generating tank, a material tank for containing gas generating material, a passage between said material tank and said gas generating tank, automatic means for delivering material from said material tank to said gas generating tank, driving mechanism for actuating said automatic means, a storage tank, a passage between said gas generating tank and said storage tank, and a clutch device operated; generating tank or rendering inoperative the mechanism for drifang said automatic means when a predetermined gas pressure has been attained in said gas generating tank.

7. In a gas supply system, the combination with an engine, of a gas generating tank, a gas generating material tank in communication with said gas generating tank, a feed device between the material .the pressure in said gas tank and the gas generating tank, automatic mechanism operated by the engine for operating said feed device, and a controlling device for said operating mechanism'oper ated by the pressure in said gas generating tank.

GEORGE W. THOMPSON. 

